10/22/2025
I am my children’s soft place to land
And a walking bruise - I cry at commercials now.
Shoo the fly instead of swatting it.
Of course, the news keeps me up at night, as do
The valentines I need to order for class.
This is the way it works:
For every crisis, there is a mother sitting at the
Table, folding paper hearts over and over again so
They cannot be torn, and wishing we could do the
Same for our children.
Yet we will send them into the world
With nothing but a backpack and
Our open arms behind them
Knowing how hard it can be
And that we must do the hardest thing of all:
Stay soft.
“Paper Heart” by Rachel Beachy
Photo by